This prophecy is found in Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith Yahweh of hosts.”
Who is Yahweh of hosts? The apostle Paul provides the answer in 1 Corinthians 10:4: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank all of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Messiah.” (in Greek, Christ)
It was the Son of Yahweh himself that led the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses confirms this in Exodus 13:16: “For by the strength of hand Yahweh brought us forth out of Egypt.”
This Yahweh of the Exodus is the same Yahweh who appeared in his physical form to Adam, Abraham, and then to Moses. This was not the Father, but the Son, the Messiah, Yahweh of hosts.
No man has ever seen or heard Yahweh, the Father. The apostle John confirms this in John 5:37: “And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.”
Where is the Father? Paul answers this for us in 1 Timothy 6:16: “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting.”
The apostles, Paul and John, are in agreement. The Father has never had contact with any man. All contact has been made through the Son. Remember how Messiah was quoted in John 5:37 as saying: ”The Father himself, which hath sent me.”
The Father and Son work together in this world. One is the Word, the visible representative of the family of Yahweh (Ephesians 3: 14-15) and the other is the Father, that has never left the light in heaven.
An example of the Father and Son working together is found in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah which is related in Genesis 19:24: “Then Yahweh rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorra brimstone and fire from Yahweh out of heaven.” The Word, sent by the Father, participated in the destruction of these two cities from the earth. The Father projected his power from heaven.
It was the voice of the Son that Adam and Eve heard in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:8) They hid themselves. They were hiding themselves from a physical being. This was the same being that would later lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
How did Satan relate to the Son of Yahweh? Remember, Satan had been cast out of heaven. (Revelation 12:3-4) In Job 3:6 we are told this: “Now there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came also among them.” Satan was appearing before the Son of Yahweh, not the Father.
Matthew reveals another time when Satan appeared before the Son of Yahweh. This time it was Messiah incarnate. We can find this in Matthew 4:1: “Then was Yahshua led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”The outcome of this encounter demonstrated the deferential role that Satan had with the Son. Satan was put in his place by this Son of Yahweh, the Word, Yahweh of hosts, who was to become YahwehShua. Satan appeared before the same being who enjoyed several names. However, the Son would have his human name blotted out of the book of life once he died in sin. When Messiah appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, his human name was already defiled and no longer accepted by Yahweh the Father. The apostle Peter knew of this change when he made his declaration in Acts 2: 38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of YahwehShua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift the Holy Spirit.” This verse reminds us that the Father’s Spirit is a gift. His spirit delivers the down payment of his Son’s Spirit that must be formed over time. (Galatians 4:19)
We only know the Father by the name of Yahweh. The Son, the Word, is also known as Yahweh, but what distinguishes the Son from the Father is the attribute, which describes his function at a certain time. Below is a list of the Son’s names associated with an attribute that describes his various functions:
Yahweh Yireh Provide Genesis 22:14
Yahweh Ropheka Healer Exodus 15:26
Yahweh Nissi Banner Exodus 17: 15
Yahweh Mekaddishkem Sanctify Exodus 31:13
Yahweh Shalom Peace Judges 6:24
Yahweh Sabaoth Hosts 1 Samuel 1:3
Yahweh Tzidkenu Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6
Yahweh Shammah Is there Ezekiel 48:35
Yahweh Elyon Most high Psalms 7:17
Yahweh Roi Shepherd Psalms 23:1
For more information about the various names referenced above, please see The Companion Bible by E. W. Bullinger, appendix number four.
All of these attributes are referred to in the Scriptures. However, there is one that is not found in the Scriptures, and that is the name YahwehShua, Yahweh Savior. This is the name of faith. This is the name that the Son of Yahweh inherited after his resurrection. This name is shared by both the Father and the Son, as indicated in Revelation 14:1.
Why is the inherited name of the Son also considered the name of faith? Consider the description of faith that we find in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Messiah died with the name of Yahshua, and was witnessed by many people. The Scriptures report that name. The Scriptures do not reveal his resurrected name. Hebrews 1:4 reveals that there is such a name, but does not tell us what it is. We take the existence of the name, YahwehShua, in faith. We hope the name does in fact exist but we cannot see it. Wasn’t this also Abraham’s dilemma as well? He hoped for a city but never saw it.
He hoped for his own son, even though it appeared to be physically impossible. By seeing that Yahweh provided his promised son, he knew also that someday he would see the city that he hoped for.
The name YahwehShua identifies the Spirit that Messiah promised to his disciples when he told them not to leave Jerusalem before observing Pentecost. It was on that day that the new covenant began. The new covenant is based on the internal reception of the Son’s Spirit. The old covenant was based on the external regulation by the law. The old covenant ended with the Son’s death on the tree.
The interaction between Messiah and the Israelites in the old covenant relied on the might and power of Messiah. However, the firstfruits or saints have a different relationship with the Son. We are not seeking the Promised Land on this earth. However like Abraham we are seeking a city with foundations that will come in the new heavens and earth. We do not rely on physical force. We must exhibit the humility, love, and obedience that Messiah is teaching us. These are the characteristics Messiah exhibited when he became incarnate as Yahshua. His Spirit within us is leading us to those characteristics and not to the Promised Land. Those important characteristics are outlined in 1 Corinthians 13 and many other places in the new covenant Scriptures. Our development of those characteristics will allow us to overcome and be resurrected like Him. (1 John 3:2)
In this age, the firstfruits do not rely on the physical might or power as provided to the Israelites of the old covenant. We rely on the Spirit being formed within us. This is why Paul was able to say: “I can do all things through the Messiah which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
The physical Israelites relied on the physical might or power provided by Messiah that was necessary to conquer the Promised Land. We are to pursue obedience, love, and humility when interacting with all the people around us. Messiah came to earth as a servant and we are expected to conduct ourselves in a similar manner. We are not called to be physically resistant, antagonistic, arrogant, or to exercise domination in this world. We are called to be servants.
The physical Israelites were given circumcision of the flesh as the outward sign of their participation in the old covenant. The firstfruits enter the new covenant with a spiritual sign of circumcision without hands or baptism. (Colossians 2:11)
As Abraham was looking for a city that he never was able to see, the firstfruits exercise the same faith in the name we cannot find in the Scriptures. As the belief of Abraham was imputed to him for righteousness, our belief in the name of faith is also imputed to us as righteousness. Our calling and success is based on His righteousness.
However, firstfruits most move beyond baptism. The Messiah informed John in the book of Revelation several times that we had to overcome. To overcome means that when the firstfruit dies, the Spirit of Messiah must be intact and not quenched. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) Once the Spirit of Messiah is quenched, there is no second chance. (Hebrews 10:26-27)
This is unique to the new covenant. In the old covenant, the Father would give and take His Spirit back as a situation required. For example, King Saul received the Spirit (1 Samuel 10:6) and that Spirit was also withdrawn. (1 Samuel 16:14) David was also very much aware that the Father’s Spirit could be given and also withdrawn. He said this in Psalms 51:11: “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.”
The Father is not going to take away the Spirit of Messiah being formed within us. However, we can lose it by neglecting our faith in the name of inheritance and no longer are obedient to the teachings of the new covenant. We must strive daily through prayer, study, and fellowship with the other members of the body of Messiah to continuously nurture the spirit of Messiah being formed within us.
The old covenant did not provide the Spirit of Messiah. This covenant was based on the activity of the Father’s Spirit. It could be given and withdrawn when the Father’s purpose was achieved. When David received the Father’s Spirit, it was indicated in 1 Samuel 16:13 that that Spirit would remain with him from that day forward. This certainly was not King Saul’s experience.
The Father’s Spirit has a very significant role in the new covenant. It is only through His freely given Spirit that we are able to receive the down payment of his Son’s Spirit. We are able to receive the Father’s Spirit at the time of baptism because we are obedient to Peter’s declaration that we must be baptized in the name of YahwehShua. Luke confirms this in the book of Acts 5:32: “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom Yahweh has given to them that obey him.”
The importance of our having the Son’s Spirit is evident in what Paul tells us in Romans 8:9: “Now if any man have not the spirit of Messiah, he is none of his.” These words are not found in regards to the old covenant.
You must be baptized as a firstfruit, in the name of YahwehShua. But as I have indicated, this is only the beginning. You must overcome unto the end. (Revelation 2:26) Once the Spirit of Messiah is growing within you, it must not be quenched. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) If quenched, there is no second chance. (Hebrews 10:26-27) Once you have his Spirit, there can be no turning back. (Luke 9:62)
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